Poll: Who’s the most popular Spur?

Matt Bonner: Spurs fans admire his offensive mindset, his willingness to bang on the boards and his everyman approach.

Matt Bonner: Spurs fans admire his offensive mindset, his willingness to bang on the boards and his everyman approach.

Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images

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Bruce Bowen: His determined defensive style that put clamps on rivals ranging from Kobe Bryant to Steve Nash on three NBA title teams was as popular as the “Bruuuuce” chants he heard after a big play.

Bruce Bowen: His determined defensive style that put clamps on rivals ranging from Kobe Bryant to Steve Nash on three NBA title teams was as popular as the “Bruuuuce” chants he heard after a big play.

Photo: John Amis / Associated Press

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Coby Dietrick: An original Spur played with the team for six years and later finished his career with them in 1983. His local career as a businessman and a television analyst made him among the most enduring Spurs in franchise history. less

Coby Dietrick: An original Spur played with the team for six years and later finished his career with them in 1983. His local career as a businessman and a television analyst made him among the most enduring ... more

Photo: Express-News file photo

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Tim Duncan: The greatest player in Spurs lore didn’t have the kind of personality that made fans want to gravitate to him. But his sheer production as perhaps the best power forward in NBA history made him a player beloved by fans. less

Tim Duncan: The greatest player in Spurs lore didn’t have the kind of personality that made fans want to gravitate to him. But his sheer production as perhaps the best power forward in NBA history made him a ... more

Photo: NICOLE FRUGE / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Sean Elliott: His dramatic comeback after receiving a donated kidney from his older brother, his “Memorial Day Miracle” game-winning shot and his rooting interest with the team as a TV analyst has helped him keep his popularity over the years. less

Sean Elliott: His dramatic comeback after receiving a donated kidney from his older brother, his “Memorial Day Miracle” game-winning shot and his rooting interest with the team as a TV analyst has helped ... more

Photo: GLORIA FERNIZ / Express-News

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George Gervin: “The Iceman” was the Spurs’ first superstar and helped build the team’s national popularity with his unique game.

George Gervin: “The Iceman” was the Spurs’ first superstar and helped build the team’s national popularity with his unique game.

Photo: Express-News file photo

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Artis Gilmore: Fans were thrilled watching “The A-Train” battle against the NBA’s best centers after developing respect for him as a rival earlier in his ABA career with Kentucky.

Artis Gilmore: Fans were thrilled watching “The A-Train” battle against the NBA’s best centers after developing respect for him as a rival earlier in his ABA career with Kentucky.

Photo: EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO

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Manu Ginobili: His gritty style of play, his knack for making remarkable plays, and his Spanish-speaking abilities have made him among the most beloved Spurs of all-time.

Manu Ginobili: His gritty style of play, his knack for making remarkable plays, and his Spanish-speaking abilities have made him among the most beloved Spurs of all-time.

Photo: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

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Robert Horry: His clutch shooting helped bring home the Spurs’ 2005 title, and his rumble with the Suns in the 2007 playoffs only made him that much more of a fan favorite.

Robert Horry: His clutch shooting helped bring home the Spurs’ 2005 title, and his rumble with the Suns in the 2007 playoffs only made him that much more of a fan favorite.

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

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Avery Johnson: Once, he was merely an undersized point guard who was waived by the team a day after he served as an usher in David Robinson’s wedding. He became “The Little General,” a clutch floor leader who hit the game-winning shot that clinched the Spurs’ first championship. less

Avery Johnson: Once, he was merely an undersized point guard who was waived by the team a day after he served as an usher in David Robinson’s wedding. He became “The Little General,” a clutch floor ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA / Express-News

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George Karl: Not as gifted athletically as many of his teammates, he made up for his basketball shortcomings with grit and hustle.

George Karl: Not as gifted athletically as many of his teammates, he made up for his basketball shortcomings with grit and hustle.

Photo: Express-News file photo

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Larry Kenon: The two-time All-Star was a dynamic offensive player and perhaps one of the most flamboyant dunkers of his era.

Larry Kenon: The two-time All-Star was a dynamic offensive player and perhaps one of the most flamboyant dunkers of his era.

Photo: NBA Photos / NBAE/Getty Images

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Steve Kerr: His clutch shooting made him a beloved player during his two stints with the team, leading to two NBA titles.

Steve Kerr: His clutch shooting made him a beloved player during his two stints with the team, leading to two NBA titles.

Photo: WILLIAM LUTHER / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Mike Mitchell: A productive small forward who averaged at least 20 points a game in four different seasons before his retirement in 1988 was always a fan favorite.

Mike Mitchell: A productive small forward who averaged at least 20 points a game in four different seasons before his retirement in 1988 was always a fan favorite.

Photo: TOM REEL / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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Tony Parker: A certain Hall of Famer who will go down as the greatest French basketball player in history. Some Spurs fans haven’t gravitated towards his glittery talents heavy with Hollywood influences, but it’s hard to argue with his basketball abilities after earning the MVP in the 2007 Finals. less

Tony Parker: A certain Hall of Famer who will go down as the greatest French basketball player in history. Some Spurs fans haven’t gravitated towards his glittery talents heavy with Hollywood influences, but ... more

Photo: Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News

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Billy Paultz: “The Whopper” provided bulk and a huge inside presence on the strong teams of the late 1970s that contended for an NBA title.

Billy Paultz: “The Whopper” provided bulk and a huge inside presence on the strong teams of the late 1970s that contended for an NBA title.

Photo: Express-News file photo

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David Robinson: The Spurs’ first NBA MVP has been the embodiment of everything that many San Antonians see in a role model — from his basketball success to his family values and military service.

David Robinson: The Spurs’ first NBA MVP has been the embodiment of everything that many San Antonians see in a role model — from his basketball success to his family values and military service.

Photo: WILLIAM LUTHER / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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James Silas: “Captain Late” had a knack for hitting game-winning shots and played with a determined style that made him the first Spur to have his jersey retired.

James Silas: “Captain Late” had a knack for hitting game-winning shots and played with a determined style that made him the first Spur to have his jersey retired.

Photo: STEVE KRAUSS / EXPRESS-NEWS FILE PHOTO

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Poll: Who's the most popular Spur?

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Manu Ginobili had been written off by many doubters before Sunday night after the most difficult season of his NBA career.

Ginobili arguably is one of the most popular players in the history of the Spurs’ franchise. His struggles earlier in the playoffs were difficult for Spurs Nation to watch after a career marked mostly by success.

Fans have always gravitated towards Ginobili’s gritty style of play. The fact that he speaks Spanish — a first for a key Spurs player — only broadens his appeal across all sectors of the Spurs’ legion of fans around the world.

“He’s obviously very popular,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s been here a long time. He’s helped us have a lot of success over the years. One can imagine since he speaks the language of a lot of the people who live here, it endears him even more. So when you put that all together, he’s a quite popular young man.”

It might make him the most popular player in the history of the franchise. There are others who have rivaled him, but Ginobili might be at the top of the Spurs’ fans’ list — at least after Sunday night.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular players in the history of the franchise (listed alphabetically):